BJCP calendar lists two July 25 homebrew competitions in summer slots

The BJCP calendar lined up two July 25 homebrew competitions in very different markets, giving brewers a clear choice between a Bloomington, Illinois stop and a Los Angeles date. Both entries carry the practical details that matter most to entrants: deadline, fee, location, and a named contact, which is exactly the kind of information that turns a calendar listing into a usable competition plan.

For What It’s Wort in Bloomington

For What It’s Wort is listed for July 25, 2026, in Bloomington, Illinois, with an entry deadline of July 18 and a $10 fee. Aaron Schulz is the listed contact, which gives entrants a direct point of reference as they sort out registration questions, bottle counts, and any local competition specifics that may come with the event.

The low fee and one-week lead time make this an approachable target for brewers who already have something ready to package and want formal feedback without a heavy upfront commitment. That matters in BJCP-space because competitions are not just about medals, but about learning how a beer reads against style and how it holds up in a judged flight. For a brewer trying to sharpen recipe design or judge a beer against the style guidelines more precisely, a Bloomington entry like this is a practical way in.

BJCP’s role gives that entry extra context. The Beer Judge Certification Program certifies beer judges and sanctions beer competitions, so a calendar listing is more than a date stamp. It sits inside a system where registered events connect organizers, judges, and entrants, and where competition planning includes access to a list of BJCP judges with contact information once an event is registered. That structure is part of why even a modest local competition can feel like a serious testing ground for a homebrew.

The timing also tells you something about fit. A July 18 deadline means packaging, entry paperwork, and shipping or drop-off planning need to be locked down before the July 25 judging date, not left until the last minute. If you are chasing clean feedback on a beer that is already stable and ready to travel, Bloomington looks like the kind of competition that rewards preparation over improvisation.

Bright Side Of Summer in Los Angeles

Bright Side Of Summer is scheduled for the same July 25 date in Los Angeles, California, with a July 10 entry deadline and a $13.00 USD fee. Marvin Gomez is the listed contact, giving this competition its own identifiable point person and signaling that the event is organized around a defined entry process rather than a loose open call.

Compared with Bloomington, the Los Angeles deadline lands earlier, which gives entrants a tighter runway to finalize bottles, labels, and submission logistics. The slightly higher fee still sits in the low-cost range for competition brewing, especially for homebrewers who want the value of structured judging and a formal score sheet. For a brewer who is working on style precision, carbonation consistency, and package clarity, this kind of summer competition is a clean place to test whether the beer presents the way it should.

The Los Angeles listing also underscores the reach of BJCP-sanctioned competition culture. BJCP’s competition handbook says homebrewing has grown and changed over time, and the calendar shows that growth in real geographic spread, with a West Coast event sharing the same date as a Midwest one. That matters because competition brewing is not a single regional scene; it is a network of local events where judges, stewards, and entrants keep the hobby calibrated against shared standards.

There is another reason a competition like this draws serious brewers: BJCP ties awards and judging structure to participation thresholds. Its exam program description says Best of Show judge points may only be awarded if a competition has at least 30 entries in at least five beer categories or three mead/cider categories. That makes every registered entry part of a larger system, and it explains why organized competitions draw brewers who care about more than a ribbon. They are looking for reputation, judging literacy, and a better sense of how their beer stands up in a real pool of peers.

Taken together, the two July 25 listings show what summer competition brewing looks like at its most useful: clear deadlines, manageable fees, named contacts, and a BJCP framework that gives the results meaning. Whether the goal is a first score sheet or a serious style check, the calendar points to two straightforward places to put a beer in front of judges and learn something concrete from the result.